What’s wrong with a color blind diversity philosophy?

While a color-blind policy (the idea that ignoring or overlooking racial and ethnic differences promotes racial harmony) may seem positive, it is associated with negative outcomes for minority group members, increased bias for majority group members, and thus negative outcomes for the organization. Colorblind philosophies and polices translate into an organizational culture that suppresses attention to important group differences and an over-emphasis on similarities.  In practice, this results in pressure for all employees to adapt to the majority group culture in order to fit in.

Sources:

• C.S.,Hunt,J.S.,Weible,J.A.,Peterson,C.R.,and Casas,J.F.(2007). Multicultural and colorblind ideology,stereotypes,and ethnocentrism among Black and White Americans. Group Process.IntergroupRelat. 10, 617–637.doi: 10.1177/1368430207084105

• Fryberg, S. M. (2010). When the World Is Colorblind, American Indians Are Invisible: A Diversity Science Approach. Psychological Inquiry, 21(2), 115-119.

• Holoien, D. S., and Shelton, J. N. (October 2011). You deplete me: The cognitive costs of colorblindness on ethnic minorities. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 10.1016/j.jesp.2011.09.010.

• Plaut,V.C.,Thomas,K.M.,and Goren,M.J.(2009).Is multiculturalism or color blindness better for  minorities? Psychol.Sci. 20, 444–446.doi:10.1111/j.1467- 9280.2009.02318.x,

• Tarca, K. (2005). Colorblind in Control: The Risks of Resisting Difference Amid Demographic Change. Educational Studies, 38(2), 99-120

Additional Resources:

Colorblind Ideology Is a Form of Racism

Color Blind’ Policies Could Make Diversity Harder to Achieve